TARDIS Newsroom

obituary

It's been more than a couple weeks now since word first traveled across Twitter of the sad news that we lost Nicholas Courtney. For many we us, we were in disbelief and shock. If you heard the latest episodes of Doctor Who: Podshock or The Sonic Newsdriver, you will know that I was literally on my flight back from attending Gallifrey One 2011 in Los Angeles when word first came to me. After such a 'Doctor Who high' that was Gallifrey One, to have this news come on its heels... well, it's never a good time for news like this, but we can be grateful it was after, not during the convention. I want to thank Correspondent Graeme Sheridan @The2ndDoctor for posting the news to our site (see: R.I.P. The Brigadier, Nicholas Courtney Dies at Age 81). I had meant to follow it up, posting some of my thoughts, but I found it difficult to do. I was even dreading having to record the next episode of The Sonic Newsdriver only because I would have to report it. Though now that has come to pass.

We have a bunch of new Doctor Who: Podshock episodes on the way which will be coming to you soon, including our live show recorded at Gallifrey One 2011. In the meanwhile, catch up on Doctor Who related news delivered sonically with the latest episode of The Sonic Newsdriver!

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart, that I report the passing of Nicholas Courtney, best known for his role as the Brigadier.

He was first seen in Doctor Who as Bret Vyon a security agent in the 12 part "The Daleks Master Plan" Later taking up the Role of Colonel Lethbridge Stewart in "The Web of Fear" and then comming back one year later as Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart in the Invasion.

Mervyn Haisman, has died of heart failure aged 82. He with co-creator, Henry Lincoln, was responsible for the creation of the Yeti and the Quarks in the Patrick Troughton stories, The Abominable Snowmen and The Web of Fear in Season 5. Plus The Dominators in Season 6. He also worked on Doctor Findlay's casebook, The Onedin LIne as well as Howards way, all for the BBC. He was also responsible for scripting Hammer Horror's, The Curse of the Crimson Altar.

"How dare you follow me into the TARDIS! The distractions… I really thought I was going to be alone again."

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 224
Running Time: 1:37:13

Interview with Anneke Wills (Polly in the 1st and 2nd Doctor eras), Join Daphne Ashbrook in NY Celebrating 25 years of Gallifreyan Embassy, David Tennant Recalls Tara Wheeler @TARDIS_Tara on Absolute Radio, Doctor Who: The Ring of Steel and Doctor Who: Podshock in New York City, news, feedback, and more.

Interview with Yee Jee Tso (Chang Lee in the 1996 movie), Tara Wheeler talks about tracking down David Tennant, Billy Davis files a report from Dragon*Con with Frazer Hines, Doctor Who: The Forgotten Army and Doctor Who: Podshock in New York City, join us for the next 25th anniversary event for the Gallifreyan Embassy, and more. Dedicated to the memory of David Jennings ("Adric Antfarm").

It is with sadness that I am once again talking about the passing of another listener and friend of Doctor Who: Podshock. It was only this past June in which we dedicated Doctor Who: Podshock 207 to the memory of Alexei Kondratiev who had passed away unexpectedly a couple weeks after attending our live show in NYC in May. Today to my surprise and shock I learned of another passing. I didn't know him that well as I have only communicated with him via Twitter and on Second Life. His name is David Jennings, but you may know him as @AdricAntfarm — the name he used on Twitter (and Second Life). In fact he was a regular at our Doctor Who: Podshock meet ups and I was just tweeting with him as recently as last week.

The most recent and last posting on his blog by a good friend of his, Amalia Broom had broken the news today:

The Actor George Waring Died on Monday 15th Febuary fice days short of his 85th Birthday.

He was Known to Classic fans through the Partick Troughton Era Story, The Ice Warriors where he played the Scientist Arden, who Discovers an Ice Warrior burried in the Ice and unfortunately becomes the Warrior's first Victim. The Ice Warriors Story is as of yet not Available on DVD but is probibly obtainable through your Favourite Auction House on VHS.

Doctor Who fans will kinda remember Richard Todd for his part as Sanders in the 1982 Peter Davison story, Kinda. Though for others, this real life war hero will be remembered for roles in such films as The Dam Busters (1955) and the Yangtse Incident (1957).

Todd, who had been fighting cancer, has died at the age of 90. He had been one of the first British soldiers to parachute into France on D-Day.

He has a long list of credits with film and television roles as early as 1937 to as recent as 2007.

Best known for being a member of the Irish pop group, Boyzone, Stephen Gately may be known more so to Doctor Who fans for his role as Tommy Tomorrow in the BBC Radio/Big Finish story, Horror of Glam Rock has died.

The singer/actor was found dead at the age of 33 while on holiday in Majorca according to news reports such as in the Times Online.

British actor, Harry Towb has died at 83 on Friday after briefly battling cancer. Born in Larne, County Antrim, grew up in Belfast, and moved to England in the 1950's, has passed away peacefully in his home in London.

Although his career spanned the stage, television, and film with roles in everything from Little Shop of Horrors (stage), The Avengers (TV), and The 39 Steps (film), for Doctor Who viewers, they may recognize him as Osgood in the 1969 story, 'Seeds of Death' with Patrick Troughton or as McDermott in the 1971 story, 'Terror of the Autons' with Jon Pertwee.